During a sit-down with reporters, FBI Director James Comey seemed to have a difference of opinion with Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton as to the nature of his investigation into the former secretary of state’s private email server.
Politico, FOX News and other news outlets participated in the roundtable discussion, during which Comey bristled at the Clinton campaign’s assertion that he is conducting a “security inquiry.”
“We’re conducting an investigation … That’s what we do,” he said. “It’s in our name. I’m not familiar with the term ‘security inquiry.'”
Comey also noted he feels “pressure” to complete the investigation, which he added is in its final stages. However, he also noted there is no formal deadline to complete what he said would be “done well.”
With the 2016 presidential race nearing its final chapter—the general election campaign—partisan frustrations with the investigation have been boiling over. Comey’s characterization, and the apparent conflict with Clinton’s description, are likely to frustrate the Democratic front-runner’s efforts to allay concerns about her private email server and classified material stored on it.
Her decision to use a private server while secretary of state has been a repeated target for Republican criticism. She will likely continue to be hammered over it during the course of the general election campaign, as well.
The FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s server, and the possibility that classified information may have been mishandled, has magnified that criticism.
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